Parks and Recreation Board Meeting 10/07/2026

The Westfield Parks and Recreation Board meeting on October 7, 2026, approved an exclusive easement for Duke Energy Indiana LLC through Freedom Trail Park, allowing installation of an electric service line for the park’s future restroom. The easement consideration is $1; the motion authorizing the Parks and Recreation director to grant it passed unanimously. The board also received the department’s proposed 2027 budget, which had been presented to the mayor and was awaiting City Council approval; the board took no budget vote. The general fund proposal increases by about $250,000, largely reflecting three proposed full-time positions, three seasonal positions, and staff merit increases. The salary line rises from approximately $693,000 to $888,381.97.

The department projected $3 million in 2027 park impact-fee revenue and $4.25 million in construction and service expenses, drawing partly on an existing balance of just over $9 million. Planned uses include design work for the Mary Anne White parcel and construction of Freedom Trail and Monon Trail restrooms, the Woods Family playground and park, and pickleball courts. The general-fund services budget includes $1.9 million for landscaping and related city properties, with H&N Services and Williams Creek identified as contractors, and a contract with Stone Huggers to restore and reposition headstones at Old Friends Cemetery Park. The director also reported that Freedom Trail and pickleball construction was underway and described other project progress; these updates did not include additional board spending votes.